no starter operation? why is my engine not cranking over?

1998 FORD EXPLORER
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SHELBYNUNYABIZ
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So I have a 1998 Ford Explorer that has 102,000 miles on it.
I haven't had any problems with it other than replacing the battery about a year ago.

But just a week ago, I went out to my truck and it didn't start. Me not knowing a thing about cars (I'm a girl) I just wiggled around the battery cables hoping it was some loose connection or something...Well it seemed to work because my truck started and continued to work for the next few days.

Today, it stopped working though. It just wouldn't start. It didn't even click or anything when I turned the key as if it were trying to start.

My friend whom works on cars has a machine that he brought over and it said that my battery was at 12.9 volts. He tried charging it because the machine said that my battery charge was at 0%. So we charged it to around 80% according to the machine, but my truck still wouldn't start. He didn't know how to check the alternator, so he wasn't sure the status on that...

He then wiggled my battery cables around again, and surprisingly my truck started.

Does anyone have a clue what might be wrong? He's not sure if it's bad connections or my alternator. Because before, I wasn't having any weird things happen like lights dimming out. Literally it was just dead one day.

Thanks for any help!!
Sep 18, 2012 at 3:57 AM
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SATURNTECH9
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These guides can help us fix it

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

Please run down these guides and report back.
Sep 18, 2012 at 4:02 AM
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KHLOW2008
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I would say you have a poor connection at the battery trminals. Maybe the cables are not tight against the holder.
Sep 18, 2012 at 9:08 AM
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SATURNTECH9
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I thought thats pretty much what i said i guess not lol.
Sep 18, 2012 at 9:16 AM
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KHLOW2008
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Yes, maybe I did not read correctly, lol. But I have seen many terminals that are clean and tight but the cable itself has deteriorated against the base. If the base is OEM, they need some recrimping or replacement.
Sep 18, 2012 at 9:26 AM
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SATURNTECH9
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Deteration wouldnt be clean or tight lol.
Sep 18, 2012 at 9:49 AM
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STRETCH90568
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I recently will go out of the house and try to start the car and all I hear is this low reving sound, not enough to start the car. I then have to jump start the car which helps. I already bought a battery and it started to do the same thing. Is it the alternator or the regulator?
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:15 AM (Merged)
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Have you checked to make sure the ground to the engine block is clean and tight? Also, have you checked how many amps the starter is drawing? Also, if the alternator and regulator are one unit on this vehicle. If it isn't charging, the light would come on in the car. Also, when you try to start the car, doe the battery terminals get hot?

Let me know.

Joe
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:15 AM (Merged)
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SHANECLOWER
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went to work got in my car to leave radio, lights, heater all came on but not engine. when i turn the key NOT A SOUND from the engine, had someone come and give me a jump, just in case but no luck, any ideas? i was told solenoid? or starter?
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:16 AM (Merged)
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GODBEAR839
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Probably solenoid they usually go first, but don't rule out the starter.If you hear a loud click under the hood when you try and start it it is probably the starter, but no click then it's probably the solenoid.
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:16 AM (Merged)
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GENE GAINES
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I have a 98 ford explorer that the battery is slowly going bad on. I charge it and it lasts a month and it needs to be charged.Monday evening I tried to start it and it chugged a couple of times but would not start. The next morning I hooked it up to the charger until it was done and then tried to start it.All the lights on the dash work normally and the radio and heater but it does nothing when you try to start it. No clicks or anything-no sound- but it is getting power.When I check the relay box under the hood you can hear a small click when the key is turned. When I touch the relays when the key is turned I can feel that the Ignition Relay is the one clicking. I dont know if this is normal or not but anyway. It does not give the multiple click like when the starter goes bad. I found out that I could bypass the solenoid to see if it was bad but I dont know how.Could the battery going dead be a symptom of the problem? Any ideas to fix it would be really appreciated. thank you
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:16 AM (Merged)
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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First, make sure the battery has the power to run the starter. Remove it and have it load tested. If it does, then you need to check if the starter is getting power. If it is, then it is bad. If there is no power, then you need to check the relay, ignition switch, wiring...

Just switch the relay with another one with the same part number. There should be ones on the relay box. Next, check to see if power is getting to the starter. If it is, remove the starter and have it checked.
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:16 AM (Merged)
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BOOKIE1227
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I shut off the car and then about 15 minutes later, it wouldn't crank.Just that day the "check gage" light appeared. Its a 1997 V6 Ford Explorer. Do you have any suggestions of what may be the issue?
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:16 AM (Merged)
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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When it doesn't start try this. Under the hood there is a power distribution box. Remove the lid and on the underside you will see a listing for each relay, fuse... Look for the EEC relay. Switch it with another one with the same part number and see if the car starts. Let me know what you find. If it doesn't help, pay attention to see if you can hear the fuel pump come on for a few seconds when you first turn the key on.

Joe
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:16 AM (Merged)
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RJHAYES75
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Car sat for three years, was told it ran great til the starter went out and then it was parked. When I bought it it had been sitting 2-3 years without a starter. It looked like it was in great shape. New starter,battery,new cables,new solenoid,missing a relay in the fuse box under the hood. For some reason when you turn the key, solenoid thumps or clicks once, a relay under drivers dash clicks once as well. Can't hear the fuel pump, or the starter warm up. No crank at all. Seems as though a couple relay slots are not getting power at all in fuse box under hood up against fire wall drivers side when checked with a light tester. Grounds are clean all cables and wires are clean and tight. Seems as though starter is not getting enoughhh power all though I don't know why. Meter says it has over 12v. Need help bad plz. I desperately need to find what's wrong so that it can be fixed.
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:17 AM (Merged)
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CARADIODOC
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Need some more detail. Where and when are you measuring this voltage? During attempted cranking or just standing still? You need to read the meter further to at least one decimal place. 12.0 volts at the battery is bad. 12.6 volts means the battery is fully-charged. 12.2 volts means it's good but discharged.

Ford has had a lot of problems with battery cables that corrode under the insulation where you can't see it. Measure the voltage right at the starter while a helper turns the ignition switch to "crank". If it drops to less than 9.6 volts we need to locate a bad connection.
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:17 AM (Merged)
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RJHAYES75
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Got that fixed.it was the wires.cranks all day now but now start...cant hear the fuel pump come on...
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:17 AM (Merged)
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CARADIODOC
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You mentioned a relay that appears to be missing, but if it was running okay three years ago the most likely suspect is a tight or failed fuel pump. Sometimes banging on the bottom of the gas tank while a helper is cranking the engine will get them going.
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:17 AM (Merged)
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JJSIZEMORE
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Electrical problem
1997 Ford Explorer V8 All Wheel Drive Automatic
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I removed the battery to clean the termanials. when i put it back in it will not start. t tried jumping still will not start.






i
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:17 AM (Merged)
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ROB2008
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Clean the terminals again first . . then if it still doesn't crank get a multimeter , or just a simple test light hook it up to the battery post (Not the terminals ) , did you get about 12. volts ,
If not get a good working battery,but if you did


.. test your connections from the battery to the terminal . hook the test light or meter up to the negative and the positive WIRES . If you didn't get any volts or your test light didn't light up then your not getting a good connection at the terminals .

I think the terminals are just loose or need clean .
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:17 AM (Merged)
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BIGGIANT22000
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I have a 96 ford explorer one day i went to start it up and it cranked but didn't turn over the starter was good I replaced the alternator, and the battery. and and now that I've replaced the solenoid starter the car is just dead now the battery terminals don't even work. what could it be??
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:20 AM (Merged)
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RASMATAZ
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Do this at the starter relay check for power at the red and light blue wire on the small terminal while helper hold key at cranking position -Do you have power-Let me know asap

Also check fuse no. 24 10amp in interior fuse panel and if it has an anti theft system check the anti theft relay in relay module
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:20 AM (Merged)
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BIGGIANT22000
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There is no power the battery wont even work i just brought a new one and i checked the fuse its fine
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:20 AM (Merged)
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RASMATAZ
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There is no power the battery wont even work i just brought a new one. What did you meant by this-If there's no power going inside the vehicle check all the fusible links and get back
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:20 AM (Merged)
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FJLABARBERA
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The car was operating ok. Parked in a lot at work.
When attempting to start a few hours later, sounded like the starter solenoid & gear failed to engage the flywheel (sounded like the starter motor was at full speed).
Pulsing the starter with the ignition key and tapping the starter motor did nothing.
Towed to a garage. They diagnosed that the starter was bad. They installed a new starter which did not fix it (same symptom).
Can't believe a starter motor 12 years old and a new one (not a rebuilt) have the same defect.
Cracked or otherwise defective flywheel??
Timing chain problem??

In Lady Lake, FL so cold weather is not involved.
Engine oil level is full.
No water or oil leaks.
No mechanical noise before this happened.
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:20 AM (Merged)
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MASTERTECHTIM
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look at the crank pulley and if when starting the crank pulley doesnt turn then replace broken flywheel. remove starter motor and look at teeth and you should see them ground off. if the crank pulley is spinning then remove distributor cap and see if that is moving and if not then the timing chain broke
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:20 AM (Merged)
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SANDRA JEAN
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My 1996 ford explorer won't start, not even a door chime, battery is good, alternator and solenoid have been replaced, what's the problem? What do I do next?
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:20 AM (Merged)
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JDL
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I'd use a digital multimeter to check battery. The generic spec for a full charge is around 12.6 volts. Battery connections all clean and tight? Will the headlights work? You may need to check for voltage at the fuse box.
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:20 AM (Merged)
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LUDLOW123
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My 1996 Ford Explorer is not restarting after say, going to put gas in it. I have to pop the clutch to get it going. The starter has been rebuilt (new selonoid (sp?)), the ignition switch has been replaced, and now the clutch switch is being replaced. Are there 2 clutch switches?
This is a great old car, I had it built for me.
Thanks for any help in understanding this.
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:20 AM (Merged)
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Do you mean the starter isn't working?
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:20 AM (Merged)
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LUDLOW123
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No, the starter is rebuilt, now it was another problem. The mechanic replaced the clutch switch, and he replaced two things. I was asking if there are two clutch switches, the car is now starting up every time.
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:20 AM (Merged)
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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There is only one. However, I'm glad it is starting every time.
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:20 AM (Merged)
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BOBOMAFO
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My car doesn't want to start up sometimes after driving it somewhere and stopping for a few minutes. If i'm going to the store or while my boyfriend is waiting to pick me up from work, driving THERE is no problem. It's if you stop the car, turn it off, and let it sit for anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes before starting it again that it starts to act ornery. And then it may not want to start for another 30 to 60 minutes. It doesn't always do it, but it does it enough to be annoying. And there's always the concern of one day being stranded somewhere when the car doesn't want to turn on at all.
I've described the problem to some people, and they seem to think it's starter. I don't know though because it's not as if the car isn't turning over. That's the thing: it'll turn over but not want to stay on. Giving it gas doesn't seem to work, heck, sometimes it's not on long enough for you to give it gas. But before I shell out 150 for a part i don't really need, does anyone have any other ideas?
thanks,
Ari C.
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:20 AM (Merged)
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Hi:
First, if the starter is working and the engine still won't start, the starter is fine. Don't waste your money on a new one.

I need to know a few things. First, has the check engine light ever come on? Also, do you know how to check for spark and fuel to the engine? Finally, I want you to try something for me. Under the hood, there is a power distribution box filled with fuses and relays. One of the relays is called the EEC. A listing of what they are is on the lid of the box. When this happens again, remove the EEC replay and find another relay in the box with the same part number and switch them. See if the car starts then. If it does, just replace the relay. Also, when it refuses to start, pay attention to hear if the fuel pump is priming. When you first turn the key on, you should hear it run for a second or two.

Let me know what you find.

Joe

PS: IF you need directions for checking spark and fuel pressure, let me know.
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:20 AM (Merged)
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EICHELBJ
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I was driving and the speedometer, radio and blinkers stopped working and then the explorer died. Now it will not start but still has power. When I try to start it the car a repetitive clicking sound comes from the engine but it will not turn over. I was wondering if this is the alternator or starter that needs replaced.
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:20 AM (Merged)
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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actually, it sounds like a dead or weak battery. Here is what to do. Remove the battery and take it to a nationally recognized parts store. Have them charge it and then load test it. THis will determine if the battery is good. If it fails the test, replace the battery. IF it passes the test and is fully charged, return home, reinstall the battery and the car should start and run long enough for you to drive it back to have them check the alternator output. The parts stores will test this for free for you.

Let me know what you find or if you have other questions.

Joe
Dec 31, 2020 at 9:20 AM (Merged)